Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
I hate to admit that I did not like this book. It was so gushy and I could not imagine Hannah talking and acting like she did in this book. I hope the next one is better.
So disappointed!!! After reading most of this series I struggled to get thru this title. The plot was disjointed and weak and the writing was just lacking. Hannah seems, in her actions, much much older than her years (lack of technology, embarrassed to be seen holding hands) and I honestly just didn't care what happened to her. The only good thing I can say about it is I actually tried a recipe (there were a lot of them and many had strange ingredients) and it was ok (I tried Applesauce Bread).
I'll start by saying I don't think cozy mysteries are for me. I read this for Book Riot's 2019 Read Harder challenge. That said OMG THIS BOOK IS SO BAD.
Like bad bad. The characters have the most mundane conversations and/or sound like they are just reading wikipedia to each other. For example:
"Me too," Mike said. "I'm just thinking that maybe I should upgrade my phone, too. It's almost two years old."
"That's ancient," Tracy told him. "Are you due for an upgrade from your provider?"
"Not yet, but I'll just buy it out-of-pocket."
"You might not have to. Check with the clerk at the phone store. Sometimes you can get a new phone or some kind of discount if you switch providers."
This is a typical conversation in this book. I'd also like to point out that Tracy is the main character's niece and seems to be anywhere from age 8 to 48. She has a smart phone and has a crush on a boy and also there's kickball and dinosaurs and she can't use the food processor by herself. She also says shall.
Every moment of this book was completely ridiculous and the murder part of the title seemed to be an afterthought with the culprit just kind of thrown in at the end. The bit about her cat was more interesting than the actual mystery and that was still the most boring mystery ever. And you can't solve the mystery on your own because there are no clues until the very very end.
Other things that sucked: Her sister makes up new recipes every single morning and every single one is perfect. Actually everyone's recipes are perfect and everyone loves them and talks about them at length. Let's also have conversations about baking pans and where to buy them. Let's also have our main character meet up with someone she knew in college and fall in love in two days to the point of obnoxious pet names.
This book seems to have been written by an alien who was trapped in a room and forced to watch sitcoms, but still didn't pay attention so wrote this.
Also I'm from Juneau and the Alaska cruise stuff was so wrong it made me mad. Don't even hate read this one.
Like bad bad. The characters have the most mundane conversations and/or sound like they are just reading wikipedia to each other. For example:
"Me too," Mike said. "I'm just thinking that maybe I should upgrade my phone, too. It's almost two years old."
"That's ancient," Tracy told him. "Are you due for an upgrade from your provider?"
"Not yet, but I'll just buy it out-of-pocket."
"You might not have to. Check with the clerk at the phone store. Sometimes you can get a new phone or some kind of discount if you switch providers."
This is a typical conversation in this book. I'd also like to point out that Tracy is the main character's niece and seems to be anywhere from age 8 to 48. She has a smart phone and has a crush on a boy and also there's kickball and dinosaurs and she can't use the food processor by herself. She also says shall.
Every moment of this book was completely ridiculous and the murder part of the title seemed to be an afterthought with the culprit just kind of thrown in at the end. The bit about her cat was more interesting than the actual mystery and that was still the most boring mystery ever. And you can't solve the mystery on your own because there are no clues until the very very end.
Other things that sucked: Her sister makes up new recipes every single morning and every single one is perfect. Actually everyone's recipes are perfect and everyone loves them and talks about them at length. Let's also have conversations about baking pans and where to buy them. Let's also have our main character meet up with someone she knew in college and fall in love in two days to the point of obnoxious pet names.
This book seems to have been written by an alien who was trapped in a room and forced to watch sitcoms, but still didn't pay attention so wrote this.
Also I'm from Juneau and the Alaska cruise stuff was so wrong it made me mad. Don't even hate read this one.
The book was terrible. I am just glad they resolved the live triangle that we had to suffer through for 17 books before this one.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Where to start ... or should I say stop.
I've faithfully read this series, and I have to say I've been pretty disappointed with the last several books.
While I've been frustrated with the Norman/Mike issue ... I secretly cheer for Mike, I would have been ok with her picking Norman. However, I had come to the conclusion quite a few books ago, that if Hannah couldn't decide on one of them ... neither one was probably going to be good enough.
What I wasn't prepared for was this book. Not only does it feel like she's talking to a 5 year old throughout the entire book, but Hannah gives new meaning to "instant-love". While Ross is a character who has been introduced in a previous book ... I couldn't tell you which one.
I also missed the Scooby Doo feel of the gang investigating. This was mostly the Hannah and Michelle show this go-a-round. Not to mention, all of the suspects were an open book on spilling all to Hannah. No offense, but her attitude that suspects should open up more to her than the actual police is starting to get a little cray-cray. The take-down was very neat and tidy at the end. Everybody loves Hannah ... and shocker ... Hannah can actually make "an informed decision".
Throw in the fact that apparently the Cookie Jar seems to be very low on Hannah's priorities lately. She sleeps in for the majority of this book and relies on Lisa and her family members, along with Hannah's sisters to actually run the bakery. The only time she's actually in the cookie jar seems to be to meet up with Mike and Norman to talk about the case.
***sigh*** I'm not sure I'll be able to actually read the next one. Apparently Hannah's taking her "slaydar" and detective skills to New York.
I've faithfully read this series, and I have to say I've been pretty disappointed with the last several books.
While I've been frustrated with the Norman/Mike issue ... I secretly cheer for Mike, I would have been ok with her picking Norman. However, I had come to the conclusion quite a few books ago, that if Hannah couldn't decide on one of them ... neither one was probably going to be good enough.
What I wasn't prepared for was this book. Not only does it feel like she's talking to a 5 year old throughout the entire book, but Hannah gives new meaning to "instant-love". While Ross is a character who has been introduced in a previous book ... I couldn't tell you which one.
I also missed the Scooby Doo feel of the gang investigating. This was mostly the Hannah and Michelle show this go-a-round. Not to mention, all of the suspects were an open book on spilling all to Hannah. No offense, but her attitude that suspects should open up more to her than the actual police is starting to get a little cray-cray. The take-down was very neat and tidy at the end. Everybody loves Hannah ... and shocker ... Hannah can actually make "an informed decision".
Throw in the fact that apparently the Cookie Jar seems to be very low on Hannah's priorities lately. She sleeps in for the majority of this book and relies on Lisa and her family members, along with Hannah's sisters to actually run the bakery. The only time she's actually in the cookie jar seems to be to meet up with Mike and Norman to talk about the case.
***sigh*** I'm not sure I'll be able to actually read the next one. Apparently Hannah's taking her "slaydar" and detective skills to New York.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No